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Situated on the banks of the holy Ganga, Varanasi or banaras is one of the most visited destinations of India. Popularly referred as the spiritual capital of India, Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities of the world. Known for its spiritual significance and vibrant culture, Varanasi is frequented by millions of people throughout the year. Everyone is familiar with the historic temples, monuments, the overwhelming ghats of ganga and the Naga sadhus of Varanasi. But every nook and corner of this pious city offers some delicious Varanasi food to the tourists.
The cuisine of Varanasi is an essential part of its culture and is majorly influenced by the nearby states like Bihar and West Bengal. The street food of Varanasi is as popular as the temples of the region. Your trip is incomplete without trying some lip smacking delicacies served here. You will mainly find the vegetarian cuisine prepared in desi ghee but there are few options for non-vegetarians as well. From snacks to main courses to desserts, the streets of Varanasi are filled with numerous shop serving delicious food. The Varanasi cuisine is a perfect blend of old traditional taste with a touch of newness and modernity. Nothing can beat the mouth watering street food of Varanasi offered in the narrow streets of this vibrant city.
Some of the best kinds of Varanasi street food that you shouldn’t miss are:
The first things to do in Varanasi after visiting the temple is to have hot and crispy kachoris with spicy aloo sabzi. This combination is the most popular breakfast option in the city. With numerous shops preparing this delicacy in their own way, the most common types of kachoris are the badi kachori stuffed with dal ki pithi and choti kachori filled with a potato mixture. These kachoris are served with a bowl of aloo ki sabzi or aloo curry which makes it a drool worthy combination.
This is one of the most refreshing things you can have while exploring the city. Chena dahi vada is a delight for all curd lovers with its perfectly balanced sweet and sour taste. Chena dahi vada is a variation of the regular dahi vadas and resembles rasmalai in appearance. The dish is prepared by dipping the vadas in the yogurt and adding a pinch of salt and jeera on the top. It is garnished with coriander leaves that adds a refreshing flavour to it.
You can find baati chokha almost everywhere in the streets and restaurants of Varanasi. Baati chokha is a very popular Bihari cuisine and is loved by people from across the country. Baati are small wheat dough balls that are stuffed with roasted chana dal and sattu. These balls are cooked over charcoal that gives it a very authentic taste. This batti is served with chokha which is a spicy mixture of mashed potatoes, tomatoes and baked eggplant. Baati chokha is one of Varanasi’s famous food.
This dish can be best described as the Banarasi version of Poha. This is prepared by stir-frying flattened rice with green peas and various different spices like hing, black pepper and garam masala. Cream, dry fruits and coriander leaves are also added to enhance the texture and flavor of the dish. Chooda matar is a perfect evening snack and the best way to enjoy it is with a sizzling cup of chai. Its taste is quite different from the Maharashtrian Poha and Bihar’s chidwa.
This delicacy is one of the most loved street foods of Varanasi. This sweet and spicy treat is also known as meethe golgappe. Small crispy golgappa are stuffed with a spicy mixture of mashed potatoes and chickpeas. These are then topped with curd and some sweet and tangy chutneys and a dash of spices. Some pomegranate seeds along with sev and pudina are used to give the final touch to this dish. A bite of these heavenly gol gappas is a delight for the taste buds as it releases countless flavors inside your mouth.
All of you must have heard about aloo Chaat but the streets of Varanasi have something unusual and delicious to offer. This Chaat is prepared by mixing boiled tomatoes, mashed potatoes, onions, green chillies and coriander leaves. Spices like garam masala, hing, red chilli powder and black pepper are added to this mixture. This dish is spicy enough that some people may find it difficult to eat. Tamatar Chaat is served in a bowl made from palash leaves, also called as dona. This special dish is unique to Varanasi and everyone must try this at least once in their lifetime.
A trip to Varanasi without sipping thandai and lassi is incomplete. These drinks are famous across the country for their refreshing taste and great flavors. Thandai is prepared from seasonal fruit puree with the rich flavor of fennel seeds, cardamon, pepper and saffron. It is served in a kulhad or a clay cup and is topped with rabri, dry fruits and nuts. Lassi is another refreshing and drool-worthy drink that you can enjoy while exploring Varanasi. Banarasi Lassi is very different from Punjabi lassi. In Varanasi, lassi is prepared more like a dessert.
Talking about the cuisine of Varanasi without a mention of the world-famous Banarasi paan is just not right. Paan is a speciality of this city and it is a must to have at least one paan during your trip to Varanasi. Paan is made from the leaves of betel nut with a mixture of betel nuts, supari and tobacco or lime. The meetha or sweet version of this paan is loved by kids and adults alike. There is no tobacco but it is filled with sweetened rose and sweet supari. Paan is mainly consumed after having a meal.
These are some of the many special treats offered on the narrow streets of Varanasi. Make sure to enjoy the delectable street food of Varanasi during your trip to this beautiful and fascinating city.
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April 15, 2024 
